The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-02-26

ance, as we'll as his knowledge OF the
best routes, takes the lead. The rank
and file follow in any order they please,
and the rear is brought up by tho
wbipper-in. Although the post Of
whipper-in is not much coveted. that
officer ranks next in Importance to the
captain, and should be N of the
strongest and most experienced
members of the club. His really
arduous duties are to quicken up the
laggards. assist the unfortunate, and
inspire the Respondent, for upon him il
depends to have the club all in together
at the end of the tramp. Vending
along the s~now-covered, tree-bordered
paths or diving deep into the forest
where there are no paths at all, the
long thin line climbs steadily upward.
growing longer as the steep ascent
begins to tell upon the weaker ones,
and they lag behind. At length the
summit is reached. and a halt is called
for q few minutes that the painting, per.
spring climbers may get their breath.
and close up the gaps in their ranks.
"All up" inquiries the captain. IAN
up" is the cherry response. "Thcn
forwardr' and off they 60 again. this
time down instead Of up, with head
thrown back, shoulders braccd firmly,
muscles at high tension, and eyes alert
for dangers in the shape of hidden
tree branches. Faster and faster grows
the pace as the impetus of the decline
is more and more felt, the shoes rattle
like castanets, and the long line Of
white coated, blue-capped figures UNI
dulates in and out among the tree
clumps, appearing, vanishing and res
appearing like some monstrous serpent
in full chase after its prey.
Ha! What's that? "A fence right
across the path? What is to be done
now? The leader soon answers this
question, for ovcr the obstacle he goes
as light as a bird, and his followers
initiate him as best they may, some be.
ing content to crawl gingerly across by
dint of hands and knees. One luckless
wight, tipping on the top, takes a sud.
den header into the snow-bank on the
other side, leaving only a pair of leg,
in sight to mark the place Of his down.
fall. But the whipperin-in comes to the
rescue, and soon has him on his shoes
again. What between fences, hedges,
bitches and other difficulties, the line
is far from being well kept up. Gaps
are frequent and wide. Some have
fallen, and lost time in getting up.
right; others have been outstripped:
but the leaders, like time and tide, wait
for no man, and soon the welcome
lights of the clubhouse, nesting in the
valley, flash cheerily across the snow.
Then the captain pauses a few min
utcs that those who have been distanced
may regain their places, and all being
once more together, a final squirt at
racing speed brings them, with shouts
of joy aud signs Of reliet, to their goal.
Here shoes are slipped off tired feet,
coats and tuques thrown glcefully
aside. and parchcd mouths cooled with
refreshing drinks. An hour or more is
spent in rest and frolic. and then the
return journey is made by tho well.
beaten road with the shoes strapped
upon the back. Tho distance "across the
mountain" is nearly three miles, yet
it has been done by an amateur in six.
teen minutes twenty-eight seconds,
which, considering the nature Of the
course, is remarkably good going. The
best amateur time for a hundred
yards on the fiat is twelve and q hall
seconds, so that, clumsy and cumber.
some as the raquets may seem at first
glance, they r really a very slight
bar to speed when the wearer is
thoroughly expert in their use
Hare and Hounds on snow-shoes is a
sport that must commend itself to all
strong and vigorous boys who have o.
taste for cross-country work, If only for
the reason that the snow-shocs make the
sport possible at a time when it would
otherwise be out Of the question. The
share" can be followed by his tracks,
thus doing away with the necessity Of
carrying cumbrous bags Of paper
%"scent." Snow.shoeing differs from
many other sports in being very easy
to learn. Once you have mastered the
art Of sliding shoe over the other
with very much the same motion that
you would make in skating, instead Of
lifting it up high as though you were
wading in deep snow, as you are sure
to do at first-once YOU properly under
stand this your chief difficulty is con
qnered and proficiency comes with a
little practice. u MacDonaM Orley, in
Harper's Young People.
"A young sprig Of tho English nobil.
/! H. - A. TN1A-. A.. 49, A---l